October 8 - 21st Century Skills Snapshots: 2nd Annual Capital Region Inquiry Forum
Teacher/Librarian/Administrator Teams and Inquiry Learning Strategies
October 8, 2009 at HVCC Bulmer Auditorium - 8:00 to 3:00
Database Consortium Purchasing Information for 2009-2010
A large envelope was recently sent to our members from the School Library
System. This envelope contains most, but not all of the information you
need to place your orders for Online Databases for the 2009-2010 school
year.
On Monday April 20, 2009 – an e-mail was sent to you with the
subject line of: Online Database Purchasing 2009-2010. This e-mail contains
a .pdf file which is the 18 page catalog of all of the databases offered
by Capital Region BOCES – with
pricing for 2009-2010. Feel free to print it or use the electronic copy. Due
to licensing agreements with vendors, we are not able to post this document to
a website. Please check your e-mail!
Your envelope should contain the customized page for your school including
all of the databases to which you currently subscribe. Note – it
should be stapled to a pink sheet and it should have the name of your
school at the top!
These two tools will help you in making your decisions
for purchasing for next school year.
To make changes to your current
selection, please mark your customized list and return it to us.
1. Cross out any that you wish to cancel in pencil
(lightly so we can read it).
2. At
the bottom of the last page, add any new databases you wish to order
and the price from the price sheet.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE PRICE LIST HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU IN A .PDF FILE
VIA E-MAIL. If you don’t have it—please call the office and we will
resend. NO PAPER LIST WILL BE SENT THIS YEAR. We are saving on paper and copying
costs.
Also—be mindful of the changes to the NOVEL collection.
Prices have been included for those resources that are no longer a part
of the NOVEL collection.
IMPORTANT NOTE! - many products are based on
FTE (Full time equivalent—means
number of full-time students enrolled). Please be sure that the number in the
FTE column is correct. If it is wrong, cross it out and enter the correct number.
Your pricing may be based on that number! Your FTE should be available from your
business office.
BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR SHEET SIGNED
BY AN AUTHORIZED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR BUSINESS OFFICIAL.
FAX BACK TO OUR OFFICE BY JUNE 5, 2009
FAX: 464-5101
Summer 2009
Summer 2009 - Professional Growth Opportunities
Curriculum for 21st Century Inquiry - Design
for Early Learning When: August 10 and 11, 2009
Monday 8:00 – 4:00
Tuesday 8:00 – 3:00 Cost: $0
15 in-service hours (note – we will work through lunch
both days to make the 15 hour total – be sure to bring
your lunch!)
Since 2006 librarians and teachers have been working with
a regionally developed information literacy curriculum. This
document will be edited and adapted to primary and intermediate
learners. Does Inquiry work with little ones? Absolutely! Learn
to tap into the natural curiosity of young learners and begin
building skills that will serve them for a lifetime of learning!
Mary Ratzer and Linda Fox will facilitate this two day workshop.
The goal at the end of day 2 is to have developed appropriate
language and processes for implementation of information literacy
skills at the elementary level. We especially encourage middle
school and high school librarians to participate. What skills
do you need to see when students arrive on your doorstep? We’ll
need your input!
Database Consortium Purchasing Information for 2009-2010
A large envelope was recently sent to our members from the School Library
System. This envelope contains most, but not all of the information you
need to place your orders for Online Databases for the 2009-2010 school
year.
On Monday April 20, 2009 – an e-mail was sent to you with the
subject line of: Online Database Purchasing 2009-2010. This e-mail contains
a .pdf file which is the 18 page catalog of all of the databases offered
by Capital Region BOCES – with
pricing for 2009-2010. Feel free to print it or use the electronic copy. Due
to licensing agreements with vendors, we are not able to post this document to
a website. Please check your e-mail!
Your envelope should contain the customized page for your school including
all of the databases to which you currently subscribe. Note – it
should be stapled to a pink sheet and it should have the name of your
school at the top!
These two tools will help you in making your decisions
for purchasing for next school year.
To make changes to your current
selection, please mark your customized list and return it to us.
1. Cross out any that you wish to cancel in pencil
(lightly so we can read it).
2. At
the bottom of the last page, add any new databases you wish to order
and the price from the price sheet.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE PRICE LIST HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU IN A .PDF FILE
VIA E-MAIL. If you don’t have it—please call the office and we will
resend. NO PAPER LIST WILL BE SENT THIS YEAR. We are saving on paper and copying
costs.
Also—be mindful of the changes to the NOVEL collection.
Prices have been included for those resources that are no longer a part
of the NOVEL collection.
IMPORTANT NOTE! - many products are based on
FTE (Full time equivalent—means
number of full-time students enrolled). Please be sure that the number in the
FTE column is correct. If it is wrong, cross it out and enter the correct number.
Your pricing may be based on that number! Your FTE should be available from your
business office.
BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR SHEET SIGNED
BY AN AUTHORIZED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR BUSINESS OFFICIAL.
FAX BACK TO OUR OFFICE BY JUNE 5, 2009
FAX: 464-5101
Winter 2009
School Library Systems and the New York State Budget Crisis
The Capital Region BOCES School Library System joins all other SLS's
in the state in concern about the state's fiscal crisis. At this writing,
funding for systems is at a standstill. Part of the funding has been
received, but there is no indication that the remainder of the approved
funding will arrive any time soon. This has a direct impact on staffing
and programs.
Because of the uncertainty of funding, SLS funded staff development
programs have had to be suspended for the winter months.
Programs such as Interlibrary loan, courier, and listserv will continue
unchanged. You also should not see any change in the timeline or process
of database consortium purchasing as this program is funded by the membership.
My colleagues and I continue to work with legislators and their staffs
to impress upon them the value of School Library Systems and the need
for funding. We are watching the process in Albany very carefully as
it plays out. Honestly, I am not highly optimistic in this financial
climate. But the important work that you do every day, and that we attempt
to support continues.
Fall 2008
Inquiry Learning in the Capital Region - A 21st Century Snapshot
An amazing group of librarians and classroom teachers demonstrated their
work at Hudson Valley Community College on Friday October 3, 2008.
Inquiry Based Learning was the focus for these educators
as they showed us their practical integration of the New York State Learning
Standards and the Capital Area Information Fluency Curriculum.
Technology and social networking tools (Web 2.0) were demonstrated not
as gee-whiz toys but real and powerful collaborative learning tools for
both teachers and students.
In an effort to have a "green" and paperless conference, all
presentations, resources and documents are now
available online. No paper handouts were used. So you (and everyone)
can see the work of these 21st Century educators!
Summer 2008
Your School Library Open 24/7 with online databases and
now – E-Books!
For many years, students and parents have had access to
high quality, standards-based reference materials for student projects
and assignments in the form of the online databases.
This year – Capital Region BOCES is happy to announce
E-Books! Through a consortia purchase, students have access to their
school reference collections online – any time, any place where
Internet is available.
No more missing pages. No more locked library. No more
confusing or junk results in a Google search.
Your school library media specialist has the key! See
your media specialist for logins and passwords to access these valuable
curriculum resources!
Combine an e-books search with a database search for solid
background knowledge AND current issues and events.
This year our schools have purchased the following titles
for their teachers and students. All up-to-date and cross-searchable.
This collection is in addition to the existing titles available
to ALL through NOVEL. Use your NOVEL account to log into GALE and check
out the GVRL (Gale Virtual Reference Library) to see what you already
have!
American Eras, Volumes 1-8
Climate Change in Context
Dictionary of American History
Environmental Science in Context
Eyewitness Science
Gale Encyclopedia of Science, 4th ed.
Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States, 5th ed.
Literary Newsmakers for Students, Volume 1-3
New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
Novels for Students, Vols. 1-16
Social Issues Primary Sources Collection
UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History
UXL American Decades
World Eras
NOTE: Not all schools were able to participate
in this purchase. But all schools have some basics through NOVEL. Check
with your school library staff for your login.
Spring 2008
The Culture of Collaboration: Building Instructional Partnerships for
Student Learning
Photo: Council Member Linda Fasano (Schalmont MS) with Dr. Ross Todd
- February 22, 2008
These are completely in line with the Capital Region BOCES SLS Information
Fluency Curriculum. We are ahead of the curve here - thanks to all of
our cutting edge library media specialists! It is available as an 8-page
PDF document.
Fall 2007-Winter 2008
Congratulations to our mini-grant winners!
Altamont Elementary School - Guilderland
Cohoes High School - Cohoes City
Glencliff Elementary School - Niskayuna
Hamagrael Elementary School - Bethlehem
Joseph B. Radez Elementary - Cobleskill-Richmondville
Lincoln Elementary School - Scotia-Glenville
Okte Elementary School - Shenendehowa
Philip Livingston Middle School - Albany City
Pinewood Elementary School - Mohonasen
Westmere Elementary School - Guilderland
Spring 2007
Leading
Learning Through The School Library: A Guided Inquiry Approach with Dr.
Ross Todd
May 4, 2007, 8:30 - 3:00
Hudson Valley Community College Bulmer Auditorium
This program, set within the context of current educational emphases
on quality teaching and learning, meaningful pedagogy, standards based education,
learning outcomes and evidence-based practice, will provide participants
with research-based frameworks and strategies for designing and implementing
constructivist approaches to inquiry-centered learning through the school
library.
Participants will gain:
an understanding of current research in relation to constructivist
learning, and student information seeking and learning in complex and
diverse information environments.
an understanding of approaches to rethinking and reshaping information
literacy education from a constructivist learning framework.
an understanding of the principles of guided inquiry as a pedagogical
framework for constructivist learning through the school library.
strategies for designing instructional interventions for guided inquiry,
and instructional exemplars.
strategies and processes for measuring and charting learning outcomes.
Congratulations to the following Capital Region BOCES School Library
System members. These schools have been awarded an SLS Mini-Grant.
All materials purchased by these grants will be available for Interlibrary
Loan for all member schools.
Albany City Schools
Livingston Middle School
Myers Middle School
Thomas O'Brien (TOAST)
Bethlehem Central Schools
Bethlehem High School
Bethlehem Middle School
Slingerlands Elementary
Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School
Brown School
Cobleskill-Richmondville
Cobleskill High School
Golding Middle School
Ryder Elementary
Cohoes City Schools
Abram Lansing
Cohoes High School
Cohoes Middle School
Duanesburg High School
Green Island School
Heatly School
Guilderland Central Schools
Guilderland Elementary
Lynwood Elementary
Westmere Elementary
Mohonasen Central Schools
Bradt Elementary
Pinewood Elementary
Niskayuna Central Schools
Birchwood Elementary
Craig Elementary
Glencliff Elementary
Northeast Parent & Child
Northeast Parent & Child @ Grout Park
Schalmont Central Schools
Schalmont High School
Schalmont Middle School
Schoharie Central Schools
Schoharie Elementary
Schoharie High School
Scotia-Glenville Central Schools
Glendaal Elementary
Scotia-Glenville High School
Shenendehowa Central Schools
Karigon Elementary
Okte Elementary
Fall 2006
Capital Region BOCES School Library System announces Mini-Grants to
schools!
The Capital Region BOCES SLS will award mini-grants to eligible schools
for the purchase of library materials to support instruction and teacher-librarian
collaboration.
These mini-grants are intended to boost school library collections,
update the average age of collections and provide resources for inquiry-based,
collaborative experiences for learners.
All public and non-public member libraries are eligible to apply. Applicants
must be in good standing with the SLS, having submitted all required
documents (ILL statistics, 2005-2006 Member Plan, etc.)
There must be a NYS certified SLMS who will act as custodian of these
funds.
These are competitive grants. A subcommittee of the SLS Council will
award grants. Strong preference will be given to proposals that include
teacher/librarian collaborative projects and inquiry based learning.
Applicants are encouraged to read all directions and to submit all documents
on time.
TOP 10 WAYS YOU CAN BOOST STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT USING YOUR SCHOOL
LIBRARY SYSTEM
Browse the professional collection for great ideas
to motivate kids to read, improve information literacy and improve
your library program.
Re-write and update your Information Literacy Curriculum
for 21st century fluency competencies.
Collect evidence. Is your program making a
difference? Participate in "Evidence-Based Practice" programs
to learn how to find out!
Borrow materials from all of the local schools,
colleges and public libraries. Don't tell your clients (teachers
OR students) that you don't have it. Get it! Use Interlibrary
Loan.
Build your network. Use the SLS listserv and directories.
Got a sticky question? Get answers for your students by tapping the
brains of all of your colleagues in the area.
Stay up-to-date! Attend technology related workshops
on blogs, podcasts, wikis, search engines etc. Be a step ahead!
Collaborate. Practice what you preach. Attend Liaison
and/or Council meetings and work collaboratively with other librarians.
Retrieve the best and most up-to-date articles and
information using NOVEL and other online databases.
Teach your faculty, administration and students
to search online using NOVEL and other online databases.
What: BUILDING a regional, skills based, information literacy curriculum
to serve as a platform for focused learning outcomes and teaching.
When: August 2 and 3, August 22 and 23. Participants
are welcome to come for two, three or four days.
Where: Capital Region BOCES
Cost: $10 per day for lunch. Or no cost if you decide to bring your
own lunch.
Registration: Online at www.crbsls.org (calendar
link at left)
Why: INFORMATION LITERACY is key to 21st century learners and many
regional SLMS have asked for this opportunity. Best practice for
SLMS begins with a clear matrix of skills as the platform for new
learning, teaching, collaboration, and integration. A regional
information literacy curriculum sets a standard for instruction, design
of learning
experiences, assessment, and the ongoing development of a learner
equipped to succeed in information environments. A skills matrix
can give SLMS new credibility, validity as teachers, new opportunities
to collaborate, new motivation, and progress shared and supported
by peers.
"Learning and thinking skills. As
much as students need to learn academic content, they also need to
know how to keep learning — and
make effective and innovative use of what they know — throughout
their lives. Learning and thinking skills are comprised of:
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
Communication skills
Creativity and innovation skills
Collaboration skills
Contextual learning skills
Information and media literacy skills
ICT literacy. Information and communications
technology (ICT) literacy is the ability to use technology to develop
21st century content
knowledge and skills, in the context of learning core subjects. Students
must be able to use technology to learn content and skills — so
that they know how to learn, think critically, solve problems, use
information, communicate, innovate and collaborate."
IMPACT Training participants proudly show their donations
for 10,000 Books.
September 2005
BOOT CAMP 2005 - All of these librarians are either
brand new librarians OR experienced librarians with new positions
for the 05-06 school year. At Capital Region BOCES SLS we wish them
every success in their new endeavors!
(L to R) MaryBeth Farr (NYS Library), George DuChant (Indian Lake
Central School), Jan Tunison (Scotia-Glenville HS), Jeff Selby (Chatham
High School), Santina Florio (Scotia-Glenville Middle School), Liz
Ryan (Glen Worden Elementary School), Melissa Bergin (Niskayuna HS & Cap
Region BOCES Administrative Intern & Boot Camp Facilitator),
Cindy Hoffmann (Brown School), and Sharon Gaffney (Averill Park High
School).
June 30, 2005
The 2005 Librarians' Reading
Lists are now on-line.This year we have 76 titles recommended
by librarians across the country, but mostly in Upstate New York.
April 26, 2005
Helping Kids Succeed: The Role of The Library Support Staff!
On
April 26, 65 library support staff met at the Capital Region BOCES
for training and collaboration. After a short presentation on the services
of the School Library System, Round Table discussions provided everyone
with a chance to share ideas and strategies for their school libraries.
Over 17 districts and 47 public and private schools were represented.
Here you'll see four of our participants from the Cobleskill-Richmondville
Central Schools. More
Photos
April 20, 2005
Meet Shelley Nugent - "Making
It Real!" Recruitment
Grant Recipient
Shelley
Nugent is currently a classroom teacher at Central Park Middle School
in the Schenectady City Schools. She is just beginning on her journey
toward the Master's of Library Science at SUNY Albany. Shelley is the
successful candidate in the Capital Region BOCES "Making It Real!" grant.
This means that Shelley's tuition will be paid for by our LSTA grant.
Shelley will be looking for schools in which to do her field experiences
and her internships. She will occasionally be attending workshops and
meetings. If you run into Shelley, please welcome her to the profession!
The School Library System is a state-funded
resource-sharing network involving libraries statewide. It offers students,
teachers and administrators equal and expansive access to library resources.